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R. G. THOMPSON.

CAN OPENER AND SEALER.

- APPLICATION FILED JAN. I1, 1917.

1,307,940. Patented June 24, 1919.

WITNESSES:

WW i M UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

.mOIBER'I G. THOMPSON, 0F SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

CAN OPENER AND SEALER. I

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Rolmu'r (ir. THOMPSON, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Seattle, in the county of King and State 'of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Can Openers and Sealers, of which the following is a full, true, and exact specification.

My invention relates to can opwers and sealers and has for its principal object: to provide an improved and novel design and construction in devices of this general character; said improvement embodying an arrangement of parts whereby a device may be folded so as to take a minimum amount of space, to provide a device which when in use shall have four points on its uppermost face which shall be at the same elevation, whereby another can or vessel may be set upon. top of the device with an even bearin -While applicant is aware that devices of this general character have been used heretofore, yet he believes that he has overcome in his present application many of the objectionable features to the devices as it heretofore has been used. In packing for shipment, or placing upon cards for sale purposes, it is desirable that devices of this kind occupy a minimum of space, and that any sharp corners or points are preferably protected so as to avoid injury to one who may be handling them, and applicants device as shown embodies this important feature.- When a milk can or the like is equipped with this device, it is frequentl desirable that three or four supporting points shall be at the same level; applicant in his improved form has accomplished this result.

Other objects will appear as my invention is more fully explained in the following specification, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a plan View of my device, Fig. 2 is a side elevation of same shown in position on a milk can with parts broken away.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, numeral 1 indicates a relatively stilf spring clamp member having curved and extending lugs 3. Centrally pivoted to clam member 1, as at 4:, is a spring member 5 whlch is preferably made from a strip of flat, thin sprin steel. Adjacent either end of spring mem er 5, a cone shaped point 6 extends downwardly therefrom. The upper Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 24, 1919.

Application filed January 11, 1917. Serial No. 141,730.

end of the cone member 6 extends above spring member 5 and termi ates in a striklng head 7. It will be notedas seen in Fig. 2 that a can 8 is usually provided with a rim 9 adjacent the upper end and that the head 10 is slightly depressed below the top of mm 9. It will also be noted that the rim 9 of the can is gripped by the top of the clamp member and by lug portion 3, and that the bent over portion 2 extends somewhat beyond the rim 9. The central portion of clamp member 1 is slightly depressed so that the highest portion of the clamp is adacent the end thereof, and the tops of the striking heads 7 are the same elevation as the end 2 of the clamp member. The strik- 1ng heads 7 are made large so as to facilitate the forcing of the point 6 through the top of the can 10. The adherent spring of the member 5 holds the point 6 snugly within the holes which they have punched within the can. It will be noted that the end of sprlng member 5 extends slightly beyond the edge of the can rim and when it is desired to lift the point from engagement with the holes in the can, it is only necessary to raise the outer ends of the spring member 5 and rotate the said member slightly and again allow the points to come in contact with the top of the can. My device may be easily attached and removed from a can and whenin the proper shape for shipment and handling, the spring member 5 is rotated until it comes directly beneath the clamp member 1. In this position the outer ends of spring member 5 are slightly depressed and the heads 7 rest against the under side of member 1. The end of the member 5 fitting within the offset ortion 2 of the clamp member 1. In this position, the inherent spring of member 5 retains the said member in proper position and the extension portion 3 protects the point 6 from injury or from injuring one who may be handling the device. Great economy in spacetion, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is: I

In a removably attachable can opener and sealer the combination of a clamp member formed with a slightly depressed center, a flat spring member pivotally and centrally secured to the lower side of said clamp, semicircularly curved outstanding extensions extending downwardly at either end of said clamp, whereby when the clamp member is secured to a can top the curved portion of the extensions will clear and extend considerably beyond the rim of the can and when not in place on a can will permit the spring member of the can opener to swing to a position directly beimath'the said clamp member, downwardly extending piercing points mounted on either end of the fiat spring member and extending above the upper side of the said flat spring members to the level of the uppermost portion of the outer ends of the said clamp, whereby when the piercing points are forced through the top of the can the tops of the said piercin}; points and the outer ends of the clamp Wlll form four level supporting points upon which another can may be laced.

ROBERT G. HOMPSON. 

